'Mental Bankruptcy': VHP Slams Rahul Gandhi Over RSS-Women Comments
VHP spokesperson Vinod Bansal accuses Rahul Gandhi of mental bankruptcy after the Congress leader called the RSS an anti-constitutional cult.
The political atmosphere has heated up as the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) launched a scathing attack on the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi. In a sharp rebuttal on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, VHP national spokesperson Vinod Bansal accused the Congress leader of suffering from "mental bankruptcy" following provocative remarks made about the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
The Spark: Rahul Gandhi's Social Media Post
The controversy began on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, when Rahul Gandhi took to the social media platform X to voice his criticism of the RSS. In his post, Gandhi described the organization as an "all-male, anti-constitutional cult." He further alleged that the RSS maintains a worldview where women are viewed merely as property.
Adding a spiritual dimension to his critique, Gandhi invoked the concept of "Shiva-Shakti" to contrast his own ideology with that of the RSS. He also claimed that a significant number of women associated with the RSS actually support his political stance against the organization.
VHP Hits Back: 'Factually Incorrect'
Vinod Bansal did not hold back in his response, rejecting Gandhi's characterization of the RSS as fundamentally flawed and factually incorrect. Bansal argued that the Leader of the Opposition is ignoring the ground reality of how the Sangh operates.
According to Bansal, women and entire families are active participants in Sangh events throughout India. To support his claim, the VHP spokesperson cited his own experiences from October 20, noting that he attended three different Vijayadashami celebrations where the presence and engagement of families were clearly visible.
BJP Joins the Fray
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also entered the debate on Wednesday, echoing the sentiment that Gandhi's comments were misplaced. The party characterized the Congress leader's remarks as hypocritical, specifically questioning his stance on women's rights while he continues his broader campaign of criticism against the RSS.
"Leaders like Rahul Gandhi suffer from mental bankruptcy," stated Vinod Bansal, emphasizing that the accusations regarding the RSS's view on women are baseless.